I cannot stand the default controls, so for some reason when I am on base RO2 maps the on screen hints are fine (excluding the tutorial which STILL sucks), when on rising strom maps the on screen hints are onl for default controls; not for the minor modifications I have made to the controls to include mouse buttons... can anyone explain this?

I use ctrl for crouch and z for prone. Melee is mouse 4 while use/etc is mouse 5. while on Rising storm maps the on screen hints are ONLY showin the default controls. Clearly a bug, can anyone help me on this issue? Seeing as I am new to the game the on screen hints are a BIG deal for use during a certain context.

It is a issue that some games have. It is not really a bug and maybe best described by a bit of lazy work. It does kinda make sense in a logical way. People who make their custom controls usually remember their keys. At least that is what some devs think I guess. So I can only say you that I think that the ingame hints only display the custom controls.

So the only advice I can give you now is that you should try to get used to the important keys by playing the game. Sorry.